Label dispensing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A label stock dispenser for incrementally driving a liner upon the surface of which are spaced adhesively mounted labels. The apparatus will drive the liner to successively position a label in a dispensed separated position relative to the liner, and upon the application of a force to complete the removal of the dispensed label the apparatus will automatically dispense a successive label to that position. The apparatus comprises a pair of opposed rollers, at least one of which is driven, while rollers are mounted on parallel axes and the peripheries are spaced a distance less than the thickness of the liner and the label of the label stock but greater than the thickness of the liner, thus affording a frictional drive for the label stock and discontinuance of the drive upon reaching the end of each successive label.

[451 Apr. a, 1972 [54] LABEL DISPENSING MECHANISM [72] Inventor: Wilfred E. Stageberg, Minneapolis, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1969 [21] App]. No.: 880,193

[52] U.S. Cl ..22l/73, 221/69, 221/9 1,845,879 2/1932 Knee ..221/3 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Attorney-Kinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt & Delahunt [57] ABSTRACT A label stock dispenser for incrementally driving a liner upon the surface of which are spaced adhesively mounted labels. The apparatus will drive the liner to successively position a label in a dispensed separated position relative to the liner, and upon the application of a force to complete the removal of the dispensed label the apparatus will automatically dispense a successive label to that position. The apparatus comprises a pair of opposed rollers, at least one of which is driven. while rollers are mounted on parallel axes and the peripheries are spaced a distance less than the thickness of the liner and the label of the label stock but greater than the thickness of the liner, thus affording a frictional drive for the label stock and discontinuance of the drive upon reaching the end of each successive label.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 4 I972 I N VE N TOR. ML FRED 1.. Jmaasma LABEL DISPENSING MECHANISM 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the feeding of articles and in one aspect to the dispensing of relatively uniform articles, e.g., labels, which are adhesively mounted to a backing or liner and spaced thereon.

2. Description of Prior Art The prior art is replete with dispensing devices which are manual, semiautomatic and automatic. The manual device generally comprises a guide for the liner permitting the label stock to be pulled about a sharp edge which tends to peel or separate the adhesively applied label from the liner. In the semiautomatic devices, when a button is pushed or a switch is closed by other means, such as the removal of the label in dispensed position from the liner, a drive motor is energized, driving the liner to separate another label from the liner and sensing means are provided for then stopping the motor upon the movement of another label to the dispensed position. The sensing devices take the form of star wheels, hooks, electric eyes, or thickness sensing devices of one type or another. Again, to dispense the label stock the liner is drawn about a sharp edge and between two drive rollers contacting the liner and connected to the motor to draw the label stock from a supply roll. In the automatic label dispensers, the dispensing of the label is controlled by the device for applying the labels to the product to be labelled. In these machines a product switch is provided such that when the product approaches the labelling machine the drive for the web is energized, serving to draw the label stock from the supply roll to afford the positioning of the label at a station at which it is automatically applied to the product as the same reaches and moves through the station. Alternatively the label is dispensed free of the liner and is moved to a remote position to be applied to the article. The automatic machine also uses sensing means for determining when to discontinue the drive of the label stock as a label reaches a dispensed position.

In all of the prior art devices the drive for the label stock or the drive for the liner to which the labels are adhered and the sensing device cooperate together to dispense the label in response to the tripping of a switch, for example a product switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention the drive for the label stock is operated continuously and the drive serves to sense the position of the label to stop the drive of the label stock when a label reaches dispensed position.

The dispenser of the present invention comprises means supporting a supply of labels to be drawn to a dispensed position, guide means defining a path from said supply to a position at which the labels will be dispensed, and surfaced members positioned along said guide path and including at least one roller rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the labels on the liner, said roller and at least one other surfaced members being supported such that their surfaces will not be spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the label, adhesive and support liner nor less than the thickness of the liner along. Drive means are provided for continuously driving the roller such that the label positioned between said roller and a said member will be driven toward the dispensed position and that driving of the label stock will stop as the strip reaches the position where said spaced surface and said roller are positioned between two of the labels on the liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above will be further understood after reading the following description which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a dispenser incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. I as taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the label drive and sensing device for the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view of a modification of the label drive and sensing device formed in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 a semiautomatic label dispenser utilizing the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus has a frame 11 with spaced side walls 12 and l3,

between which is supported on a suitable supporting core 14 having trunnions rotatably received in slots by the walls 12 and 13 a roll of label stock material 15. The label stock material 15 comprises a liner l6 and spaced labels 17 mounted by a pressure-sensitive material to the liner 16. Disposed adjacent the opposite end of the frame 11 from the supply roll 15 is an area identified as the label separating or dispensing station. In this area and extending transversely between the walls 12 and 13 are a pair of plates 19 and 20 defining a path along which the label stock 15 may move as it is advanced toward the dispensed or separated position. The plate 20 has a forward edge 21 defining a separating edge around which edge the liner 16 is tightly drawn causing the label 17 to peel from the liner into a dispensed position wherein only the fractional portion thereof between the edge and the drive rollers remains adhesively attached to the liner.

To drive the label stock 15 the stock is positioned between surface members at least one of which is movable relative to the others to advance the strip by wedging the articles or labels 17 and the liner 16 between pair of said members. As illustrated a motor 22 is connected through a suitable drive belt 23 to a pulley or sprocket 24 fixed to a rotatable shaft 25 journalled on and extending transversely between the walls 12 and 13. The surface members include an enlarged roller 26 which has its peripheral surface disposed along the path and which is engageable with the surface of the liner l6 opposite the labels l7 and is fixed to shaft 25 between the walls 12 and 13 in the area along the path between the supply and the separating edge 21. The liner 16 again engages this roller 26 after the liner 16 is drawn around the separating edge 21. The shaft 25 is rotated about an axis fixed relative to the side walls 12 and 13 and positioned adjacent to the periphery of the roller 26 is a surfaced member illustrated as a rotatable pressure roller 29, which roller 29 has its surface biased by a spring 30 toward and into engagement with the liner 16 to press the same against the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 26. The roller 29 is mounted for slight movement in the plane defined by its axis and the axis of the roller 26.

There is illustrated in the drawings an upper frame 33 pivotally mounted about an axis 32 to the side walls 12 and 13 of the frame 11. This frame 33 is drawn toward the frame 11 by a tension spring 34 secured at one end to the frame 11 and secured at the other end to the frame 33. The spring 34 tends to draw the frames together to a proper spacing set by a stop member 36 which is supported on the frame 33 and has a lower end which contacts the transverse plate 20 or the top surfaces of the wall 12 to maintain a predetermined minimum gap between the surface of a surfaced member, illustrated in the form of a roller 37 mounted on the frame 33, and the roller 26. As illustrated, the roller 37 is rotatably mounted on an axis fixed relative to the frame 33 and is spaced circumferentially from the roller 29 with its peripheral surface spaced from the peripheral surface of the drive roller 26 an amount not exceeding the thickness of the label stock material 15, i.e., the label thickness plus the liner thickness. The axis of the three rollers 26, 29, and 37 are generally disposed in a common plane transverse to the path of the label stock 15.

A leaf spring 40 forms a brake means or frictional drag for the label stock 15 to retard the movement of the label stock by forcing the same into engagement with the plate 19. In advance of the brake is a guide roller 41 rotatably mounted on the frame 33 and indicating a portion of the path for the label stock 15. A drag on the supply roll may serve as an alternative braking means.

The rollers 37 and 26 are machined and positioned so that the minimum distance between their adjacent peripheral surfaces may be closely held. The roller 37 has a diameter of approximately one-fourth inch for labels l7 spaced on the liner 16 at a distance of about one-sixteenth inch apart. In operation the total gap between the surfaces of the rollers 26 and 37, and 26 and 29 is greater than twice the liner thickness but less than the label thickness plus twice the liner thickness. The portion of this total gap between the rollers 26 and 37 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment screw 36. The spring 34 provides ample tension to maintain the proper spacing between rollers 26 and 37 for driving the label stock when a label 17 is positioned in the nip between the rollers 26 and 37.

In operation the label stock 15 is fed between the rollers 37 and 26, and the liner is threaded around the edge 21 and back between the rollers 26 and 29. The liner 16 is pulled through until a first label 17 is engaged at the nip area between the roller 26 and the roller 37 and then the continuously driven motor 22 will drive the label stock because of the increased frictional contact with the liner 16 between the rollers 26 and 37. When the space between adjacent labels 17 passes between the rollers 37 and 26 this friction contact is diminished. With adequate drag on brake 40 the label stock will stop because the frictional driving force exerted on the liner by the roller 26 due to the spring biased roller 29 will be overcome by the brake 40. In order to dispense the next label a slight tug or pull on the extended label 17 at the separating area (during mechanical application or manual removal) pulls the succeeding label between the rollers 37 and 26 and again forces the liner 16 into driving contact against roller 26 to drive the liner 16. This drawing of the next label 17 toward the nip area between the rollers 37 and 26 during each operation maintains a label 17 in dispensed position for each subsequent operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a slight modification of the drive mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this embodiment a first drive shaft 48 is journalled on a frame 50 and extends between the transversely spaced frame side plates and on its outboard end, has a gear 51 fixed thereto. The shaft 48 is driven from a suitable motor and drives through the gear 51 a second gear 52 secured to the end ofa shaft 53 which is journalled between the spaced side plates of a pivotal frame 55 corresponding generally to the frame 33. The shaft 48 has a first driven roller 56 fixed thereon and positioned between the side plates of the frame 50 and shaft 53 supports a second driven roller 57 between the plates of frame 55. A spring 58 connected between the pivoted frame 55 and the main frame 50 biases the peripheral surfaces of the roller 56 toward the roller 57. Positioned between the rollers 56 and 57 and between the plates of the respective frames 50 and 50 and supported for floating movement in a plane generally defined by the axes of rollers 56 and 57 and relative to the rollers tug 56. 56 and 57 are surfaced members or rollers 60 and 61 whose position is defined by slotted apertures 62 and 63 formed in the frames.

Rollers 56 and 57 are machined and maintained in position so that the distance between the opposing tangent surfaces may be held to a close tolerance. The frame 55 is positioned with respect to the frame 50 as that the total gap between the rollers 56 and 61, 61 and 60, and 60 and 57 is greater than twice the thickness of the label stock liner, but less than the label thickness plus twice the liner thickness. This total gap can be adjusted by an adjustable stop 63 which controls the pivotal movement of the frame 55 toward the frame 50. Thus with the shaft 48 driven continuously, the shaft 53 and the rollers 56 and 57 are driven continuously.

In operation, the label stock 16 is fed between the rollers 60 and 61 and the liner is pulled around a separating edge 64 and is positioned between the rollers 61 and 56. The liner is pulled through manually until the first label is at the nip area between the rollers 60 and 61 which label thickness causes frictional driving contact between the roller 56 and the liner l6, and between the roller 60 and 57 to drive the label 17 and liner 16 between rollers 60 and 61. The label stock will be driven until a space between successive labels 17 on the liner 16 reaches the nip area between the rollers 60 and 61, at which time the frictional driving contact is lost or diminished. With an adequate drag on a brake member 68, the label stock 15 will then stop. In order to dispense the next label a slight tub on the extended label 17 should be applied to draw or pull the lead edge of the succeeding label 17 between the rollers 60 and 61 which takes up the space between the rollers and forces the roller 60 toward the roller 57 and the roller 61 toward the roller 56 This creates a positive driving force until the label completely passes between the rollers 60 and 61. The label being fed, or a previous label since the rollers need not be as close to the separating edge as illustrated, is then in a dispensed position to be subsequently removed and applied.

It is preferred in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 that roller 56 have a slightly larger diameter than roller 57 to apply some overdrive to the liner between roller 56 and 61 maintaining the liner taut about the separating edge 64.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for successively positioning articles of uniform thickness adhesively carried in spaced relationship on a liner in a dispensed position, said dispenser comprising means defining a path for the liner for movement around a separating edge to dispense said articles adhesively mounted thereon,

drive means positioned along said path and spaced from said edge, said drive means comprising at least three surfaced members including a roller positioned with its axis transverse to said path with the surface of said roller being disposed at locations along said path on opposite sides of said separating edge, said other surfaced members being positioned in opposed relationship to the surface of said roller and along said path on opposite sides of said separating edge, means mounting said roller and said other surfaced members in spaced relationship such that, with the liner threaded along said path between one of said surface members and said roller, around said edge and between the other said surfaced member and the roller, the total space between the adjacent surfaced members is greater than twice the liner thickness and less than the article thickness plus twice the liner thickness, and means for driving continuously at least one of said surfaced members.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said roller is a driven roller positioned on an axis fixed on said dispenser and said other surfaced members comprise:

a first surfaced roller disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of said driven roller and disposed in advance of said separating edge to engage said articles on a said liner; and

a second surfaced roller disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of said driven roller, and said dispenser further includes spring means biasing said second roller toward said driven roller to afford frictional contact between said driven roller and a said liner to tension said liner about said separating edge.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said other surfaced members of said drive means comprise a first driven roller positioned on an axis fixed relative to said path and spaced from said path in advance of said separating edge,

a second driven roller positioned on an axis fixed relative to said path and spaced from said first driven roller, and

said roller is one of a pair of rollers rotatably supported with the axes thereof parallel to the axes of said driven rollers and positioned between said driven rollers, said pair of rollers having diameters such that the total spacing between the adjacent surfaces ,of adjacent rollers is greater than twice the liner thickness and less than the article thickness plus twice the liner thickness.

4. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein braking means are provided for retarding the movement of said articles and liner by said rollers.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein braking means is provided for retarding movement of the liner along said path.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein said braking means comprises a frictional drag means engageable with the articles along said path in advance of said drive means.

7. A dispenser for intermittently positioning articles in a dispensed position comprising:

a frame;

an article stock comprising said articles adhesively carried in spaced relationship on a liner;

path means mounted on said frame for defining a path for said article stock;

separating means along said path means for separating the articles from the liner upon movement of the liner past 7 said separating means; and

drive means mounted on said frame and being continuously driven for intermittently moving said article stock to said separating means to dispense the articles, said drive means comprising:

a driven first roller rotatably mounted on said frame on one side of said path means;

a surfaced member mounted on said frame and positioned adjacent said first roller and on the side of said path means opposite said first roller so that said path extend through the nip between said first roller and said surfaced member, and spacing means for providing a spacing between said first roller and said surfaced member exceeding the thickness of said liner but not exceeding the thickness of said liner and the articles, thereby affording positive driving contact between said first roller and said article stock moving along said path only when a said article is positioned in said nip.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said path means includes means for defining a path for the liner after the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and

said separating means comprises a plate forming a portion of said path including an edge about which said liner is drawn to separate a said article from the liner and tensioning means for tensioning said liner about said edge vided for retarding the movement of said article stock along 5 said path.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said tensioning means comprises:

a third roller rotatably and movable mounted on said frame adjacent said first roller, the nip between said first roller and said third roller forming a portion of said path means for the liner after the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and

biasing means for biasing said third roller toward said first roller with a predetermined pressure thereby affording a predetermined frictional tensioning force to tension said liner about said edge.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said surfaced member and said first roller are mounted for relative movement on said frame, and said positioning means comprises;

means for providing a minimum spacing greater than said liner thickness between the adjacent surfaces of said first roller and said surfaced member, and

biasing means to bias said surfaced member toward said first roller to afiord positive driving contact between said first roller and said article stock when a said article is positioned in said nip.

12. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said surfaced member comprises a second roller rotatably mounted on said frame axially parallel to said first roller;

said drive means further comprises a third driven roller mounted adjacent said first roller and a fourth driven roller mounted adjacent said second roller, said third and fourth rollers being rotatably mounted on said frame with their axes generally in the plane defined by the axes of said first and second roller;

said first and second rollers are mounted on said frame for movement in the plane defined by their axis;

the nip between said fourth and said second roller forms a portion of said path means for the liner after the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and

said spacing means affords a minimum cumulative spacing in the nips between said rollers of more than twice the liner thickness, thereby affording said tensioning means by firm frictional contact between said fourth roller and said liner and driving contact with said article stock only when a said article is positioned in said nip between said first and second roller.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,653,539 Dated April 4-, 1972 Inventor(s) Wilfred E. Stageberg It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Note: The printed lines of this patent are not aligned with the line numbers. The following line numbers were determined by counting the lines in the column.

In the Abstract,'line 8, change "while" to which Column 1, line 62, change "along" to alone Column 3, line 56, change "50" (second occurrence) to 55 line 58, delete "tug 56"; and line 65, change "as" to so Column I, line 7, change "roller" to rollers line 13, change "tub" to "tug and line 18, after "56" I I O I Column 5, line 33, change "extend" to extends Column 6, line 8, change "movable" to movably Singed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 1" u.s, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 o-aes-su 

1. A dispenser for successively positioning articles of uniform thickness adhesively carried in spaced relationship on a liner in a dispensed position, said dispenser comprising means defining a path for the liner for movement around a separating edge to dispense said articles adhesively mounted thereon, drive means positioned along said path and spaced from said edge, said drive means comprising at least three surfaced members including a roller positioned with its axis transverse to said path with the surface of said roller being disposed at locations along said path on opposite sides of said separating edge, said other surfaced members being positioned in opposed relationship to the surface of said roller and along said path on opposite sides of said separating edge, means mounting said roller and said other surfaced members in spaced relationship such that, with the liner threaded along said path between one of said surface members and said roller, around said edge and between the other said surfaced member and the roller, the total space between the adjacent surfaced members is greater than twice the liner thickness and less than the article thickness plus twice the liner thickness, and means for driving continuously at least one of said surfaced members.
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said roller is a driven roller positioned on an axis fixed on said dispenser and said other surfaced members comprise: a first surfaced roller disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of said driven roller and disposed in advance of said separating edge to engage said articles on a said liner; and a second surfaced roller disposed on an axis parallel to the axis of said driven roller, and said dispenser further includes spring means biasing said second roller toward said driven roller to afford frictional contact between said driven roller and a said liner to tension said liner about said separating edge.
 3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said other surfaced members of said drive means comprise a first driven roller positioned on an axis fixed relative to said path and spaced from said path in advance of said separating edge, a second driven roller positioned on an axis fixed relative to said path and spaced from said first driven roller, and said roller is one of a pair of rollers rotatably supported with the axes thereof parallel to the axes of said driven rollers and positioned between said driven rollers, said pair of rollers having diameters such that the total spacing between the adjacent surfaces of adjacent rollers is greater than twice the liner thickness and less than the article thickness plus twice the liner thickness.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein braking means are provided for retarding the movement of said articles and liner by said rollers.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein braking means is provided for retarding movement of the liner along said path.
 6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein said braking means comprises a frictional drag means engageable with the articles along said path in advance of said drive means.
 7. A dispenser for intermittently positioning articles in a dispensed position comprising: a frame; an article stock comprising said articles adhesively carried in spaced relationship on a liner; path means mounted on said frame for defining a path for said article stock; separating means along said path means for separating the articles from the liner upon movement of the liner past said separating means; and drive means mounted on said frame and being continuously driven for intermittently moving said article stock to said separating means to dispense the articles, said drive means comprising: a driven first roller rotatably mounted on said frame on one side of said path means; a surfaced member mounted on said frame and positioned adjacent said first roller and on the side of said path means opposite said first roller so that said path extend through the nip between said first roller and said surfaced member, and spacing means for providing a spacing between said first roller and said surfaced member exceeding the thickness of said liner but not exceeding the thickness of said liner and the articles, thereby affording positive driving contact between said first roller and said article stock moving along said path only when a said article is positioned in said nip.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said path means includes means for defining a path for the liner After the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and said separating means comprises a plate forming a portion of said path including an edge about which said liner is drawn to separate a said article from the liner and tensioning means for tensioning said liner about said edge when said drive means is in driving contact with said article stock.
 9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein braking means are provided for retarding the movement of said article stock along said path.
 10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said tensioning means comprises: a third roller rotatably and movable mounted on said frame adjacent said first roller, the nip between said first roller and said third roller forming a portion of said path means for the liner after the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and biasing means for biasing said third roller toward said first roller with a predetermined pressure thereby affording a predetermined frictional tensioning force to tension said liner about said edge.
 11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said surfaced member and said first roller are mounted for relative movement on said frame, and said positioning means comprises; means for providing a minimum spacing greater than said liner thickness between the adjacent surfaces of said first roller and said surfaced member, and biasing means to bias said surfaced member toward said first roller to afford positive driving contact between said first roller and said article stock when a said article is positioned in said nip.
 12. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said surfaced member comprises a second roller rotatably mounted on said frame axially parallel to said first roller; said drive means further comprises a third driven roller mounted adjacent said first roller and a fourth driven roller mounted adjacent said second roller, said third and fourth rollers being rotatably mounted on said frame with their axes generally in the plane defined by the axes of said first and second roller; said first and second rollers are mounted on said frame for movement in the plane defined by their axis; the nip between said fourth and said second roller forms a portion of said path means for the liner after the articles have been dispensed therefrom; and said spacing means affords a minimum cumulative spacing in the nips between said rollers of more than twice the liner thickness, thereby affording said tensioning means by firm frictional contact between said fourth roller and said liner and driving contact with said article stock only when a said article is positioned in said nip between said first and second roller. 